This white balsamic vinaigrette dressing takes only 2 minutes to make and has just four ingredients – white balsamic vinegar, kosher salt, oil, and a touch of honey. It combines tangy and sweet flavors to elevate any salad to a whole new level. Whether you’re hosting a family dinner or a social gathering, this quick and easy homemade dressing recipe is sure to be a hit.
If you like a light, slightly sweet dressing then this is for you.
I am a big proponent of making my own dressing. It’s really very easy and I only need to make and use a little bit at a time.
My homemade coleslaw dressing might be my favorite (because it’s not sickly sweet like most coleslaw dressings you get at the store, though my orange vinaigrette is a close second.
But this white balsamic salad dressing is coming in hot (figuratively).
It’s so easy to make. SO easy. It literally takes 2 minutes (and honestly maybe less depending on how fast you pour).
The dressing uses white balsamic vinegar, giving it a light golden color and very mild flavor that’s still slightly sweet.
Pair it with a touch of honey plus some oil and salt and you’ve got everything you need.
I like to use this dressing on a blueberry spinach salad my family makes, or on a watermelon basil salad that’s quickly become a warm weather favorite. But really it works any time you want a light and sweet dressing.
Read on to see how quickly it comes together!
Grab these 4 ingredients
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.)
- White balsamic vinegar – not to be confused with regular (dark) balsamic vinegar, this version is milder and has a very light, almost clear color. It’s great for fresh fruits and salads. I am able to find it in my local grocery stores, but you can always order it from Amazon if you need to.
- Oil – use a mild oil for this dressing. I prefer to use avocado oil but if you like the taste of extra virgin olive oil you could use that too.
- Honey – you don’t need much honey as the white balsamic vinegar is already slightly sweet. If your honey is very thick or has hardened a bit, warm it up in a small microwave-safe dish before adding it to the dressing so it incorporates more easily.
- Kosher salt – This recipe calls for Diamond Crystal kosher salt, which is my preferred salt. It is less salty by volume than other salts which means it leaves a little more room for error when salting your food. If you are using a different type of salt (kosher or otherwise), you’ll want to use this salt conversion chart from Epicurious to determine how much salt to use.
What’s the difference between balsamic vinaigrette and white balsamic vinaigrette?
The main difference between balsamic vinaigrette and white balsamic vinaigrette is the type of vinegar that’s used. A balsamic vinaigrette typically uses a (dark) balsamic vinegar whereas a white balsamic vinaigrette would use white balsamic vinegar.
Dark balsamic vinegar is typically aged longer than white balsamic vinegar and can have a thicker texture and sweeter taste.
How to make white balsamic dressing
This recipe has two basic steps:
- Measure out the ingredients and add them to a jar.
- Put the lid on the jar and shake until well combined.
That’s it!
You may have an extra step of heating up your honey if it’s very thick or hardened, but other than that, this white vinaigrette is super simple to make.
White vinegar vs. white balsamic
Regular white vinegar and white balsamic vinegar are very different! White vinegar is basically acetic acid and water (or other additives) whereas both white and brown balsamic vinegar are made from grapes.
White vinegar is very harsh and sour whereas balsamic vinegars are more mild and sweet. White vinegar can NOT be substituted for white balsamic vinegar in this recipe.
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Sweet White Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Equipment
- A small mason jar with a lid
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp oil
- ¼ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- ½ tbsp honey
Instructions
- Measure out each ingredient with the appropriate measuring spoon and place it into that jar.
- Secure the lid on the jar and shake it until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Use immediately or store in the mason jar with the lid on in a cool, dark place for several weeks.
Dottie
Should you store this on the counter or in the refrigerator?
Taryn Solie
Hi Dottie! I would store it in the fridge in a covered container.